Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday strongly defended the Mumbai-Pune Expressway's Missing Link project in the Assembly, saying that isolated incidents should not overshadow one of the state's biggest engineering achievements.
His remarks came days after a landslide near one of the project's tunnels forced authorities to shut the route for more than 18 hours.
Replying to a discussion on heavy rains and flood management, Fadnavis said challenges during the initial phase of large infrastructure projects are not unusual and should not become the basis for questioning the project's future.
"It was because the Mahayuti government had the courage that this project became a reality. If governments stop building infrastructure out of fear of landslides or other risks, no major project will ever be completed," he said.
The Chief Minister described the 13.3-km Missing Link as an engineering milestone, highlighting that it includes India's widest cable-stayed bridge and large viaducts designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 170 kmph. Opened to traffic on May 1, the project bypasses the Lonavala-Khandala ghat section through twin tunnels, reducing the Mumbai-Pune travel distance by 5.7 km and cutting journey time by 20 to 30 minutes. He also said the new alignment has improved traffic movement and reduced accidents in the ghat section.
Drawing parallels with the Konkan Railway, Fadnavis said every major infrastructure project undergoes a learning phase.
"When the Konkan Railway was built, landslides occurred almost every year for nearly 15 years. Engineers studied each incident, introduced corrective measures and eventually brought the problem under control. Had fear dictated decisions then, the Konkan Railway would never have been built," he said.
Fadnavis also said the proposal for the Missing Link had been prepared during the previous Congress-led government but was later shelved. According to him, his government revived the project after consulting technical experts, who confirmed that it could be executed safely.
Following Monday's landslide, the government sought the opinion of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Based on their recommendations, additional wire mesh and slope protection measures will be installed at vulnerable locations along the route, he said.
The Chief Minister also took aim at those criticising the project, accusing some television commentators, social media users and "paid trolls" of spreading misinformation.
"The day after the Missing Link was opened, some people started making false claims on television. Others on social media are deliberately spreading misleading information after taking money. Those who intentionally defame Maharashtra by spreading lies will not be spared," he said.
In one of the sharpest moments of his speech, Fadnavis added, "Ten years from now, those hurling abuses today may not be around, but the Missing Link will remain, and so will the names of Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde."
On Mumbai's flood preparedness, the Chief Minister said the state has submitted a Rs 13,000-crore Integrated Flood Control Plan to the Centre. Once approved and implemented, the project is expected to address around 370 flood-prone locations across the city. He also said the government has tightened monitoring of desilting work, imposed stricter penalties on erring contractors and introduced greater transparency in civic projects.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut launched a scathing attack on the Chief Minister over his remarks against critics of the Missing Link project.
Raut alleged that the government was trying to ridicule citizens who questioned the project after the landslide.
"They mislead the public, and when people raise questions after a project develops cracks, they are branded as 'paid stooges' or 'dogs'. This can happen only under a Sultan's rule. It is a Sultan's regime, and those sitting around him were applauding such language. It is shameful for Maharashtra, the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," Raut said.
Responding to Fadnavis' allegation that critics were tarnishing Maharashtra's image, Raut said the BJP leadership itself had done the greatest damage to the state's reputation.
"If anyone has conspired to defame Maharashtra, it is Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, with Devendra Fadnavis following their lead. Is speaking the truth now considered an insult to Maharashtra? When Fadnavis was Leader of the Opposition, he made countless allegations on every issue, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. He should first listen to his own statements before accusing others," Raut said.
